Material handling apparatus



Aug. 27, 1957 s. v. WORTH ET AL 2,804,187

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June l, 1956 I 24 /a /G. A41/ 37 37/ 2f e 3a ff /25 27 26 30 x Mm f2 /a 34/ a6 if /4 t 36a?- /Z 45;, 36 /5 34 36 fp i 1L j '-lulllmgmg 4 F76'. .f F76 2 INVENTOR AGEA/7 United States Patent 2,804,187 MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Application June 1, 1956, Serial No. 588,663 8 Claims. (Cl. 19343) This invention relates to material handling equipment, and more particularly to means for orienting articles. While of broader utility, apparatus embodying principles of this invention is especially adapted to the orienting of electronic tube sockets.

In the art of so-called printed wiring, it is frequently the practice to mount components, for example electronic tube sockets, in suitable apertures provided in a printed wiring panel. Terminal portions carried by the socket are disposed for registry with similarly disposed printed circuit terminal portions provided in the panel along the edges of the apertures. Inasmuch as the aforesaid mounting is, to advantage, carried out by automatic mechanical devices, it is of considerable importance that the tube sockets, as presented for insertion into a panel, are oriented in precise correspondence to the orientation of the terminals disposed along the edge of a mounting aperture.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide in article feeding apparatus an orienting device which will effect the delivery of articles in a predetermined manner.

It is another object of this invention to provide a means of orienting tube sockets or other articles by causing rotation of the articles as they progress along a predetermined path.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an article orienting means requiring no moving parts.

In the achievement of the foregoing and other objectives a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an inclined track means having an upper receiving portion and a lower terminal or discharging portion, said upper portion being adapted to receive cylindrically formed tube sockets, or the like, having radially extending lugs, and to convey the same in a direction transverse the axes thereof to said discharge portion of the track means. Tube sockets are presented at the receiving portion and conveyed therefrom along the track means either in a desired degree of orientation with respect to their axes or in a non-oriented manner characterized in that a socket is displaced angularly with respect to its axis a predetermined amount from its oriented position. It is a particular feature of this invention that an interference membern is disposed adjacent ksaid guide track means and adapted releasably to engage the lug of a non-oriented socket as it moves along the track means, said interference member being cooperable with a lug of a non-oriented socket, so engaged, to impart rotary movement to the socket. The guide track means further has an oiset, or detent, portion disposed opposite the aforesaid interference member; the configuration and arrangement of the detent is such that it will accommodate lateral pivotal displacement of a non-oriented socket as it pivots about the interference member in such manner as to guide the socket through a predetermined angle and into its oriented position, whereby the socket arrives at the terminal portion of the guide track means in the desired oriented position.

2,804,187 Patented Aug. 27, 1957 ice It is an additional feature of this invention that an oriented tube socket entering the guide track means, upon engagement of a portion of the tube socket with the interference member, does not rotate about the interference member to a degree suflicient to accommodate lateral displacement of the socket and its subsequent entry into the detent portion, there being disposed for cooperable engagement with an oriented socket an arcuate member provided in the detent portion eifective to prevent angular motion of the socket into non-oriented position, whereupon the engaged portion of the socket slips past the interference member and the tube socket continues along the component stream in its oriented position.

The manner in which the objects and advantages of the invention may best be achieved will be clearly understood from a consideration of the following description.

taken in conjunction with the accompanying which:

Figure l is a somewhat diagrammatic elevational showing of tube socket conveying and insertion means including a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, with parts broken away, the view looking generally in the direction of line 2 2 of Figure l and showing both oriented and non-oriented tube sockets in varying stages of movement;

Figure 3 is a perspective showing, with parts broken away, of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing an oriented socket in motion; and

Figure 5 is an elevational showing, on a somewhat enlarged scale, of the electronic tube socket shown in Figures l, 2, 3 and 4.

Now making more drawing in detailed reference to the drawing, and more particularly to Figure l thereof, there is shown an insertion head 10 of known design including upper and lower horizontally disposed portions 11 and 12, respectively, interconnected by a vertically disposed portion 13. The insertion head comprises suitable mechanism (not shown) for operating a vertically reciprocable ram 14 carried by the upper portion 11 and adapted at its lower end 15 to exert a force upon a suitably presented component 16, for example a tube socket disposed at the lower end of the guide track means 17. ln this embodiment the applied force effects insertion of a component into an aperture (not shown) provided in a wiring panel 20 which is held in place by complementary channel-like members 2.1 and 22.

A frame 23 carried by the horizontal member 11 supports a feed-hopper means 24, which is of known construction and adapted to supply components 16 to the upper end of guide track 17. Disposed in an upper sloping portion of the track means 17 is the orienting means 25 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) with which this invention is concerned. Also provided is an escapernent-type component feeder 26, of known type, which includes a component release element 27 formed integrally with an operating arm 3Q, the. feeder being mounted for pivotal movement upon pin 31 carried by track means 17. A rotatable cam 32 is carried by upper horizontal element 11 of the insertion head and is adapted for camming engagement with the pivotally mounted arm 3%.

The tube socket 16 (Figs. 3 and 5) shown for illustrative purposes is somewhat cylindrical in shape and is adapted for movement, preferably by gravity flow, along the track means with its axis at substantially a right angle to the track. Carried by the upper portion of the component 16 and along its periphery is a radially extending ange 33; while carried by, and extending radially from, the ange are three lugs 34 spaced equally from one another along the periphery of the ilange 33. The socket 16 nests within and is attached to the horizontal portion posed adjacent the stream of 35 of a generally U shaped resilient strip having vertical portions, or tabs, 36 extending above and beyond the flange portion 33 of the socket and being diametrically opposed with respect to the axis of the socket, one of thetabs 36a (Figure 4) being `:positiorred.adjacent :lone of the lugs 34, rather thanxspaced angularlytherefrom. .(See that lug identified as 34a `in Figure `4.)

The vertical tabs 36 are advantageously presented in such manner that Vthey are constrained within :parallelly disposed, spaced guide `elements 37 of the track means, and thereby prevent'both lateral and rotational displacement of a tube socket as it movesfalong the lower mem- .ber 38 `of the track means 17, as will be `hereinafter more fully understood.

The novelorientlng means .with which this invention isespecially concerned, comprises (Figures 2, 3, and 4) somewhat modified 'forms V37a and 37b of thc fguide rails 37. As is more clearly seen in Figure 3 an interference element 4,1, or pin, :is attached to and `extends vertically downwar'dfrom 'the guidenrail 37b, and is distube sockets, or other comincluding abutment portion 42a, 37b adjacent the pin 41 for reaponents. A detent `42., is provided in the rail sons to be hereinafter posite guide rail 37a has an arcuate, offset portion 43; attached to the guide rail by suitable holding means 45 is the vertically depending arcuate member 44, the latter beingdisposed generally parallel tothe.. offset .portion more fully described. The op- 43, and cooperable therewith `to form a secondary guide means, the function of which will Abe hereinafter more fully described. Although the .portions of the rguide track means that include the orienting elements are shown to comprise elements separate from the guide track means 17, it is to be understood `that the guide track 17 and orienting means'25 may be formed integrally.

In operation of the apparatus of the invention (Figs. l, 2 and 3) tube sockets 16 are fed from the hopper means 24 to the upper portion of guide track means 17 in such manner that they are presented for gravity ow toward the release element 27, either in a non-oriented or oriented manner. The oriented position of the illustrative socket (Fig. 4) is characterized in that the tab 36a, disposed adjacent the above-mentioned lug 34a, leads in the direction of component travel. On the other hand, a tube socket in its non-oriented position, illustrated in Figure 3, is characterized, in the preferred embodiment, in that it is displaced angularly by 180 from the desired oriented position shown in Figure 4, that is, the tab and lug 36a-34a lag rather than lead. As was pointed out previously the sockets 16 are restrained for linear, rotation-free movement within the guide track means 17 by virtue of the sliding engagement of the tabs 36 with the portions 37 of the guide 'track means.

Rotation of thecam 32actuates'theV socket comprising adjacent tab and lug portions (36a` 34a) is disposed upstream with respect permits the same to slide downwardly until such time as the lug 34 engages the pin 41. Upon such engagement, the momentum of the socket 16 is sufcient to cause pivotal, sliding movement of the same whereupon the tab 36 enters the secondary guide means formed by detent 43 and arcuate member 44 until such time as substantially rotation of the socket takes place, as shown at 16u, and the socket continues along the guide track 17 in its proper desired orientation. The detent 42 serves advantageously to permit swinging movementof 4the tab to component flow,

'the pin 41, whereupon such means being such that it `is '36 Aop'posite the similar "tab 36 34 in its own arcuate path until such time rotational movement of the socket is complete. VIn `the course of such movement lthe aforementioned opposite tab will be forced against abutment portion 42a and rebound therefrom and. thereby reinforce gravitation of the socket in its path of movement along the guide track.

Now referring to Figure 4,'there is shown an oriented socket 16 immediately following engagement of a portion thereof with the pin 41. It is'to be noted that the lug 34 is presented in such manner `that normally no pivotal engagement thereof with the pin `41"oecurs.A Only the relatively smooth flange 33 is brought to bear against pivotal force 'as is provided by the somewhat frictionless engagement of the flange with the pin does not impart rotary movement to a socket in sufficient degree, and soon enough, to cause the tab 36 'to enter the offset guide track. Furthermore, the arcuate member 44 is advantageously presented for sliding engagement with a tab 36 of a slightlyrotated oriented soeketfin such vmanner that the socket is physically restrained from further rotationalmovement, and continues on its way in an oriented manner as shown. vIf it should happen that the -lug34strikes the pin 41, in the case of an orientedsocket, and thereby causes the socket to rotate, it will be clear from Figure 4 that onlyslight angular motion can take place. This will be understood when it is recognized that, in thekcase of an oriented socket, tab 34 does not reach `the vicinity, or level of the pin 41 until the following tab 36 is in position to engage the arcuate restraining surface 44.

Inasmuchas the guide rails 37 disposed u adjacent lug areY inherently spaced from one another in excess `of the widths `of tabs 36,`

limited lateral displacement of the socket will occur, for example in the upper portion of guide means `17. However,` lateral displacement ofthe socket from the rail 37b may prove detrimental to the orienting of a component 'in that ineffective engagement of a lug`34 withy `In view of the foregoing, it is to be understood that a lateral slope in the direction of the .pin ,'41 `may also be applied tothe means 25 in order to insure thatthe lug 34of non-oriented components will be brought into releasable pivotal engagement with the pin 41.

Itis to be understood that, although a preferred ernbodiment of the invention comprises means for orienting a tube socket having a particular configuration, it is lcontemplated that various the pin 41 might occur 1. In material handling apparatus adapted to convey components, such as generally cylindricalelectronic tube sockets having lugrand tab portions extending therefrom, said lug portions extending radially and said tab portions 'extending axially of said sockets, orienting means comprising: guide track means adapted to conveya stream of such sockets; an interference member disposed in said guide track means adjacent the tube socket stream and adapted releasably to engage the `lug portion of a nonoriented socket, theV engagement being effective to impart rotary movement to anon-oriented tube socket about the Vengaged lug as a 'pivot point; and offset arcuate track means disposed `adjacent the ,tubeV socket :stream and 'adapted slidably to engage atab portion of Aa non-'oriented itube ,socket as itis caused tok rotate aboutsaid pivot point, the construction and arrangement of said `offset cooperable with the said slidably engaged tab portion of a non-oriented tube socket to guide the socket into its desired oriented position.

2. In combination with apparatus for mounting electronic tube sockets upon a wiring panel, said tube sockets having radially extending lugs and axially extending tabs disposed upon lateral surface portions thereof, guidetrack means for supplying a stream of oriented tube sockets, said guide track means being provided with an interference member in the tube socket stream adapted to engage one of said radially extending lugs whereby to impart rotary movement to a tube socket about an engaged lug as a pivot point, said guide track means further having oset arcuate track means disposed adjacent the tube socket stream and adapted to engage an axially extending tab of a non-oriented tube socket as it is caused to rotate about the engaged lug, the construction and arrangement of said otlset means being such that it is cooperable with the axially extending tab to cause complete rotation of the tube socket into the desired oriented position.

3. In apparatus for orienting an article with respect to its axis as it moves along a guide track, said article having first and second peripherally disposed extended portions, said rst portions extending axially of and beyond said article and said second portions extending radially of and beyond said article, an interference member disposed in the guide track and adapted releasably to engage a second portion of a non-oriented article and effective to impart rotary movement to said article about the engaged second portion, and offset track means disposed adjacent said guide track means and adapted slidably to engage said first portion, the configuration and arrangement of said oiset track means and said interference member, respectively, being such as to provide, in cooperation with said irst and second extended portions, for pivotal movement of said article and into the desired oriented position.

4. Guide track means having upper and lower end portions, said upper portions being adapted to receive articles for gravitational movement toward said lower end portion, the articles being characterized in that they have at least a pair of peripherally disposed portions extending therefrom, one portion of said pair extending laterally and the other extending vertically from said article, an interference member disposed in said guide track means and adapted releasably to engage the radially extending portion of an article, and offset guide means carried by said track means and adapted slidably to engage the vertically extending portion of the article, the configuration and arrangement of said interference member and said offset guide track means being such that said article is cooperable therewith as it ows along said guide track means to provide for rotational movement of said article through approximately 180.

5. In material handling apparatus adapted to convey components having laterally extending lug portions and tab portions extending in a direction transverse the direction of extension `of said lug portions, guide track means for said components, means for supplying said components to said guide track means, said components being characterized in that they are presented for movement along said track means, randomly, in an oriented and non-oriented manner, the former being characterized in that said lug portions are in a lagging position and the latter in that the lug portions are in a leading position with respect to the direction of component movement, interference means associated with said track means and adapted for abutting engagement with a leading lug portion of a non-oriented component as it moves along the guide track means, said engagement being effective to impart rotation to the component about the engaged lug as a. pivot point, and an offset guide track disposed adjacent said guide track means and adapted to accommodate entry of and provide a path for a transversely extending tab portion of a rotating non-oriented tube socket and provide for movement ented position, the conguration of the lagging lug portion of an oriented component and its arrangement with respect to the interference means being such that abutting engagement of said lug with the interference means is prevented and sliding engagement of the component with the interference means is effected, said sliding engagement being ineffective to impart rotation to an oriented component and entry of the tab portion into the oiset guide track.

6, Apparatus in accordance with claim 5, and further characterized in that an arcuate member is disposed in the otset guide track for cooperable engagement with said tab portions of an oriented component and eiective to ensure that an oriented component will not rotate into non-oriented position.

v 7. In material handling apparatus adapted to convey articles in desired orientation along a line of progression dened by a guideway, each of said articles having a pair of opposed extended portions one of Which is spaced to one side of the line of progression and the other which is spaced to the other side of the line of progression, said extensions being in a lagging position in a properly oriented article and in a leading position in an improperly oriented article, means for turning an improperly oriented article properly to orient the same as it moves in said guideway along said line of progression, said means comprising an interference member disposed adjacent the line of progression of said articles and in position to be contacted by one of said pair of opposed leading portions of an improperly oriented article, said member serving to rotate the article into properly oriented position, with said portions lagging, as it moves along the line of progression and past said interference member.

8. In material handling apparatus adapted to convey articles in desired orientation along a line of progression, in combination: structure providing a guideway delining said line of progression; a plurality of articles to be conveyed, each article having a pair of opposed extended portions one of which is spaced to one side of the line of progression and the other of which is spaced to the other side of the line of progression, said extensions being in a lagging position as a properly oriented article moves along said line of progression and in a leading position as an improperly oriented article moves along said line of progression; and means for turning an improperly oriented article throughout a substantial angle properly to orient the same, said means comprising an interference member disposed adjacent the line of progression of said articles and in position to abut one of said pair of opposed leading portions of an improperly oriented article, and to rotate the article into properly oriented position, as it moves along the line of progression and past said interference member, the construction and arrangement being such that, in the case of a properly oriented article in which the mentioned portions are lagging, sliding contact between said lagging portions and said interference member takes place, said sliding contact not being effective to impart substantial rotation to the article as it moves along the line of progression and past said interference member.

No references cited.

of the same into the desired orij 

